With our son’s permission, for Giving Tuesday, we would like to share a little story of our current life with chronic illness. Please be patient as you read… As his mother, I have really contemplated on if I should open up my heart this much because I have been so hurt in the past.

I haven’t really shared it with many but Parker has been in bed about three weeks. He is really sick. Three docs think it is a virus that has kicked his body into defense mode. Whatever it is, it is really mean! His blood pressure keeps dropping. Several times I have almost taken him to the ER but they really want us to avoid the ER if at all possible. Prayer and hope are my biggest form of combat right now.

Parker has also been struggling hard with major ear and vestibular issues, while also working hard on PT to heal from his recent foot/ankle surgery. In addition, he has been having issues due to his scoliosis, his SI joints, and his jaw. Oh, and he just passed a kidney stone about two and a half weeks ago.

If you are thinking “this is a lot”, you are right! This is the life of many children with chronic illness and their families, but the world doesn’t see it. Many families just deal with it quietly within the confines of their own home and life goes on all around them.

This is why we fight so very hard and why we started the Purple Playas Foundation. If you have made it to the end of this email, we know you really care about our family and about all these children.

If you are giving for “Giving Tuesday”, please consider Purple Playas. We are forever grateful for your support!

• Donate directly at our PPF website
• Venmo: @PurplePlayasFoundation
• Zelle: rochelle.lentini@gmail.com
• Mail a check to: PPF, 16608 Lake Heather Drive, Tampa, FL, 33618

With love, gratitude, and hope,
The Lentini Family